CHAPTER 2
BETH
Tucking my pencil into the side pocket of my backpack, I grabbed my test paper off my desk and walked confidently to the front of my class to turn in my finished test so I could rush back to Senoia to pick up my kids and get to work. "You still have twenty minutes left, Miss Greene, are you sure you don't want to look over the test one more time?" Professor Steinbeck asked as he sat on the edge of his desk. He was really young to be a professor but he knew his material that was certain but his age also made him cocky.
"Thanks but I'm sure." I told him as I laid the test face down on his desk and made my way out of the classroom.
Just as I stepped outside of the classroom I felt a hand slide along my hip. "Miss Greene can I talk to you for a moment?" Professor Steinbeck asked softly. The man had a reputation around the campus for preying on young pretty students of his once they were no longer his students.
Pulling away from him I crossed my arms over my chest to seem defensive and guarded. "I'm sorry, Professor, but I really must be going."
"What's the rush? Got a party to get ready for to celebrate the mid-point of the semester?" He asked as he winked at me.
I simply rolled my eyes at his suggestion. "I'm sure my one-and-a-half-year-old twins will put a damper on any college party in the entire state." I snapped at him before walking away from him and out of the building. Thankfully he taught mostly short session courses so I wouldn't have to see him any more unless we passed in the hallways. As soon as I stepped out into the warm spring air I pulled my phone out to call my mom. Before I could get my phone unlocked I felt a hand grab my elbow. "You have to the count of three to get your hands off of me before I lay mine on you in a not so nice kind of way." I seethed as I turned my head to see Professor Steinbeck standing there with a smirk on his face.
"Now, Miss Greene, don't be that way." He said as he tugged on my arm.
"One." I said as I planted my feet firmly on the ground. After what had happened to me at the one college party I had ever been to I had made it a mission in life to learn how to protect myself. "Let go of my arm."
He slid his fingers off my arm but only so he could slide it onto my hip. I didn't want to cause a scene if I could avoid it because I was so close to graduating. "I've seen the way you look at me in class."
"Two." I told him as I twisted my hips out of his reach. "I look at you because your mouth is spewing the information I need to pass the course. I suggest you don't make me say three and report you to the Dean of Student Affairs. Take no for an answer and go prey on the next victim because it damn sure ain't gonna be me this time." I snapped at him with my hands clenched at my sides, prepared to swing if necessary.
Professor Steinbeck finally made a wise decision and put his hands up and backed away from me without another word. Taking a deep breath of fresh air when the door closed behind the creep that was Professor Steinbeck I unlocked my phone and dialed my house number since my parents didn't believe in cell phones. "Hello?" my mom answered breathlessly into the house phone.
"It's just me mom. I wanted to let you know that I'm walking to my car so I'll be there in about twenty-five minutes to get the kiddos and lunch." I told her as I pulled my keys from my pocket. This car had been a gift from my parents when I had decided to go back to college after the twins were born. I had been perfectly content driving the old Honda Civic that had been a sweet 16 present but my parents had wanted me to have something more dependable since I was driving from home to campus every day and transporting the babies everywhere. My midnight blue Ford Edge was such a surprise from my parents that I had cried when I spotted it parked where I had parked my car the night before with all of my stuff already in the new ride. With the settlement money from the University I could have easily paid for a new car in cash but I was content with the car I had, my parents weren't. So my dad had dipped into their retirement money and paid for the car and continuously refused to accept payment from me since then.
My mom sighed. "Okay, you know I don't mind watching them while you go to work."
Hitting the button on my key fob I seen my lights blink a few rows ahead of me letting me know it was unlocked. "They are my responsibility mom, not yours. They will be fine in the play area in the clinic. Plus they love playing with all the puppies and kittens up there."
"You always did too when you were little. I would have to fight with you to keep you at home during school breaks because you wanted to go to work with your father." She said with a chuckle. "Be careful driving home. We'll see you soon." She told me softly.
"I will mom. See you in a short bit. Need me to pick anything up on my way home?" I asked as I climbed into the driver seat, sliding my backpack into the passenger seat.
She sighed into the phone. "Do you have time? I know you are supposed to be at the clinic before 12:30 and it's almost 12 now."
"It'll be fine. Just tell me what you need." I told her as I cranked the car and began pulling out of the parking lot and onto the highway that led me home. While I did work for my father, I still had a work schedule to stick to and I didn't like taking advantage of the fact that I could technically get by with coming in late because my family owned the practice.
Clucking her tongue a few times she finally sighed and began to list off the things she needed from the market in town.
Once I got into town I stopped by the clinic to tell my dad and Ellen, the receptionist that worked while I was in class or tending to farm business. "Hey Beth." Ellen said as I walked through the door with my backpack over my shoulder. I had mid-terms tomorrow and Friday that I still had to study for.
"Hey Ellen, is dad busy?" I asked her as I walked around the counter to drop my backpack off. "I was just stopping in to let him know I have to pick up some stuff for Mom before going to get the kids so I will be a little bit late getting back." I told her as I slid my backpack under the desk out of the way.
She just smiled at me. "He just left for the Grimes farm. One of their sow's is having trouble birthing her litter."
I nodded in understanding. "Do you mind waiting until I get back? I shouldn't be too long."
"That's fine, sweetheart. Take your time. I'll stay until you and the babies get back." She told me as the phone began to ring.
"Thanks, Ellen." I whispered as I headed back out the door to my car.
After a quick trip to the market to pick up my mom's items and some snacks for me and the twins I headed for the farm in a semi-rush because I hated being late for anything. And on top of my regular work stuff I was expecting Daryl Dixon to pop up at some point in the evening to discuss the joint business venture he had proposed yesterday morning. Pulling into the farm I smiled when I spotted my kiddos standing on the porch waving at me. Today they were wearing their 'one cute chick' and 'chick magnet' outfits. Aurora had her little red curls pulled up into tiny pigtails with bright yellow and white polka dot bows on top of each one, a little blue jean skirt, and yellow glitter sandals with her 'one cute chick' shirt. Aiden was wearing his blue jeans, yellow slip-ons, and yellow hat with his 'chick-magnet' shirt. It was what I had brought down stairs this morning for mom to put on them after lunch since I left them in onesies this morning for breakfast. "Hi my cuties!" I called out to them as I climbed from the car with mom's bags in my hands.
I wasn't the type of parent that decked my kids out every single time we left the house but I liked for them to be clean and cute when going to the clinic. The people in this town didn't know how I had gotten pregnant with the twins so the gossip mill ran wild when I had returned home after one semester away at college. And I had told my family that I didn't want anyone knowing what really happened so they had just let the people of the town form their own opinions. So I tried to make the best impression I could when I was at the clinic with the kids. But kids will be kids so the people of the town had seen them throw fits when they were told they couldn't have something they wanted. The people of this town had seen me and the kids at the local café after a hard day of work and play on the farm, we were still in our dirty clothes but had clean faces and hands. At this point in my life I didn't care what the gossip mill was saying about me or my parenting style, I just wanted to be the best parent I could to my kids so they could grow up to be the best adult they could be.
"Mama!" They both called out as they jumped up and down in excitement that brought a huge smile to my face. This was what made all the stress of my days worth it, my babies excited to see me. Their excitement is what made suffering through everything I had went through after the rape worth it.
My mom met me on the steps to take the bags so I could scoop up my kiddos as was tradition every single day that I came home to get them. "Hello my loves." I told them as I squatted down to hug them both at the same time. They automatically clung to me and wrapped their legs around my hips. Putting a hand under each of their bottoms I stood up with them on my hips. "Mama missed you guys today." I told them as I sat on the porch swing, positioning a kid on each leg and in each arm.
"Mama." Aiden sighed as he nestled his head against my chest.
Pressing my lips against the top of his little hat I smiled to myself. "I love you, my big boy."
Aurora raised up to look at me with her bright green eyes. "Wove?" She asked pointing to her chest.
Smiling at her I placed a quick kiss to the tip of her tiny little nose. "Yes, sunshine, mama loves you too." I told her as she snuggled into my chest much like her brother. "I love both of you." After a few minutes of enjoying some snuggles from my babies I knew it was time to get to work. "Are y'all ready to go to work?" I asked each of them.
Aurora nodded but didn't move from the spot she had snuggled into. It was their nap time and would they would most likely be sound asleep before we ever made it to the clinic. Aiden didn't move which told me he was just about sound asleep. "Need some help?" My mom asked as she stepped back onto the porch with mine and dad's lunch in a bag.
"If you'll just carry the food to the car and open Aurora's door for me, I'll get them." I told her as I took a deep breath and stood up, shifting each kid to a shoulder with an arm around their legs and hand on their diaper clad bottom.
My mom headed off the porch ahead of me and quickly opened the back passenger door so I could place Aurora into her car seat. "Here you go, sunshine." I whispered to her as I slid my arm out from around her.
She just looked at me with sleepy green eyes. "Mama, work?"
"Yes ma'am. We're going to work. Go ahead and go to sleep and when you wake up you can play with the puppies." I told her softly as I fastened her buckles into place one handed while her brother snored gently on my shoulder.
Aurora yawned as she leaned her head against the back of her car seat. I had it tipped back just a bit so their heads didn't loll forward when they fell asleep. Stepping back I shut her door before walking around to repeat the process with her brother. Before having kids I never would have dreamed being able to do everything I do one handed but when you have two little ones demanding attention and things constantly one quickly learns how to be versatile about anything and everything. Gently placing Aiden in his car seat I made quick work of his straps before shutting his door and cranking the car so they wouldn't get too hot in their seats. My mom stood on the other side of the car with a smile on her face. "What?" I asked her as I looked over the hood of the car at her.
"I'm just so proud of you, that's all." She whispered.
I shook my head. "That's not all. What's going on?" I asked her with a raised eyebrow.
She sighed and shook her head. "Your graduation celebration invitations came in today."
"Oh." I said because I had forgot all about telling my mom that she could order some. Everyone that was important to me already knew that I was graduating along with the when and where so I felt invitations had been a moot point but my mom had been adamant that it was a huge deal and invitations needed to be sent out. She had also been understanding that there was limited seating at the actual ceremony so she had made the invitations for a celebratory dinner for the evening of graduation. "How many did you order?" I asked nervously because of what happened last time I attended a party.
My mom smiled and shook her head. "Just forty, Beth. Everything will be fine. Your father, brother, sister, and I will be here the entire time. This isn't going to be like last time. No loud music or drinking. Just people here to celebrate your accomplishment."
"Okay, Mom." I nodded in understanding despite the knots in my stomach. "I gotta get to work. I'll see you this evening." I told her as I blew her a kiss before climbing into my car with a deep breath. I rolled down the passenger side window and called out to her. "Mom!" I called to get her attention. When she turned to look at me I smiled at her. "I love you." I said simply.
"I love you too, Bethie. Have a good afternoon at work." She called back with a wave and blown kiss.
I nodded as I pulled from the driveway with my stomach still in knots.
DARYL
After speaking to Deanna Monroe about her homemade ice cream I was in a great mood because she had been excited to sell her desserts in my store. We had a tasting set up for next week to try several different desserts she made other than just honey ice cream. With a little extra pep in my step I dressed in my work clothes and got ready to head to the work site to check on the concrete that had been poured yesterday. We had to wait at least a week before we could begin construction on the store but we had to wait almost a month before we could even start the framing for the abattoir and butchering area so the concrete could fully cure. I needed those areas to stay colder so I was doing a super-insulated floor like Dale and Irma had in their butcher shop. When I pulled into the lot I spotted Abraham walking around the concrete slabs slowly. "Hey man, everything look good?" I called out to him as I climbed from my truck.
He looked at me and smiled. "It looks perfect. I'm just waiting on the inspector to come sign off on them." He explained as he pointed to the slick concrete filled forms in front of us and the rebar spike filled one behind us. Since the abattoir and butcher area was being double poured with an insulation area between there was rebar going from one layer of concrete into the other one to tie them together.
I smiled as I looked at all the concrete on the lot. This was the true beginning of my future. "These look amazing." I said, almost to myself. "I wish my brother could see this happening." I whispered as I shook my head.
"Just wait until next week when the walls start going up." Abraham said with a smile and tap of his clipboard. The portable storage building is being delivered later today and the building supplies tomorrow so that gives us time to go through them and make sure everything we ordered is here and make corrections if something is wrong." He explained as another vehicle pulled in beside my truck. "That'll be the inspector." He told me as he started walking towards the car before the person even turned the engine off.
I left Abraham to the inspector and walked around the forms picturing what it would all look like in six weeks. Then I pictured what things would look like in eight weeks when construction was set to be completely done. Abraham and a tall skinny black lady walked towards me talking animatedly. "Daryl! I would like to introduce you to Jacqui Prescott, she'll be our inspector for the duration of this project." Abraham introduced us.
Sticking my hand out towards the woman I smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Prescott." I told her genuinely. "I want this entire project done correctly so if you spot something not up to code please let Abe or myself know so we can get it fixed." I told her honestly.
"Please call me Jacqui. Most people beg inspectors to go easy on them not be tougher on them." She joked as she shook my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Dixon."
With a quick shake of her hand I released it and stuffed my hands into my pockets. "Daryl, please. This business is everything to me so I want everything done correctly so I don't have any problems in the future. That's why I picked Abe to be my project foreman, he came highly recommended and respected around these parts." I explained with a small smile.
The big man huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Most folks give me grief about following building codes so it's a relief to actually work with someone who wants things done by the book." Abe said as he waved towards the concrete slabs. "Shall we get started with the inspection?"
"Absolutely." Jacqui said with a smile.
Once Jacqui left the property I turned to Abe with a smile on my face. "That went good, huh?"
Abe laughed and nodded, clapping me on the shoulder. "This was an easy one, my friend. She'll be by at every step of the way. I've emailed her a copy of our building schedule so she knows when things are supposed to be done for her inspection."
"Good. I've got to run. Call me if there is a problem with the building or supplies." I told him as I opened my truck door.
With a nod of his head, Abe headed back towards the slabs.
I had a few stops to make before I went to meet Miss Greene to discuss selling her meets at my shop. The first being the post office to pick up my mail since I had yet to install my mail box and to mail a letter to both my brother and the Horvath's. "Hi, Amy." I told the young girl that was usually behind the counter every time I came in here which was once a week.
"Hi Daryl. The postmaster is getting annoyed at you for not having a mailbox installed. Said you either need to get it installed or open a post office box." She said as she handed me a small stack of mail.
Nodding in understanding I handed her the two envelopes to be mailed out. "I'll get it put in today." I told her with a smile. "Can you mail these for me?"
She nodded with a bright smile. "Of course."
"Thanks." I said as I turned to leave the small building.
"Bye Daryl." Amy called out quickly.
I waved back at her but continued my way to the truck. Apparently, I had a mail box to put in the ground today and there was no time like the present. A quick stop at the hardware store got me the post to mount the mail box on top of and the bag of concrete needed to secure it in the ground. Another stop at the market secured lunch for myself and the stray dog that had been hanging around the yard. The mutt that had been hanging around met me in the driveway with a wagging tail. "Dog, why don't you go home?" I asked the scraggly looking mutt as I climbed from the truck with our lunch in my hand.
He licked my hand, barked, and followed me into the garage that needed new garage doors because the old ones had been destroyed in the house fire. "Come on." I told him as I opened the door that I had installed when I first bought the house. The first things I had done to the house was replace all the windows and doors along with a new roof to dry in the place so I could work on it little bit by little bit. The inside of the house was a complete mess. I had removed every single wall in the place except for the load bearing walls which would soon be replaced with beams so I could remove the walls. Abraham was also overseeing the majority of the work here also but I liked to pitch in and do things in my down time so he could focus mainly on the work site. "Hey guys." I told a few of Abe's guys as they stood over the blueprints Abe had drawn up for me for the new layout of the house. "How's it going?" I asked as I placed my lunch sack on the corner of the table.
"It's going pretty good. Just got here a little bit ago and we're planning to put up some temporary walls today so we can get ready to put the beam in place." One of the guys, Tyrese, said as he pointed to the main load bearing wall.
I nodded as I smiled. "Sounds like fun. Let me get the dog and myself fed and we'll pitch in and help." I told him as I clapped him on the shoulder before grabbing the lunch bag and heading for the stairs and deck out back. "Come on, Dog."
After helping knock out the studs of the irritating load bearing wall I had been itching to knock down I grabbed a shovel and headed down the driveway with the materials to put in my mail box that had been sitting in the garage for a few weeks now. "This'll mark the place as mine." I told dog as I stepped on the shovel to sink it in the dirt.
With a few grunts and brute force I got the mailbox cemented in and looking good as it stood marking my permanent place in the world. Taking my phone out of my pocket I snapped a quick picture to send too Irma with the caption of 'It's official'. Once I sent the photo I seen what time it was. Time to go face the headstrong Miss Beth Greene.
I washed up in the creek out back, snagged a clean shirt out of the laundry basket in the garage, and left for Greene Veterinary Practice with Dog in the truck with me. While driving through town earlier I had spotted the clinic so I now knew where to go. It was barely four o'clock so I figured that would be enough time to get Dog checked out and to discuss business before they closed at 5. Pulling into the parking lot of the veterinary clinic I suddenly felt nervous about the business part of this meeting which was surprising because I had been doing a lot of that with a bunch of people lately. "Come on, Dog. Time to get checked out since apparently you're stickin' around." I told the scraggly shepherd mix dog as he jumped from the bench seat of my truck onto the pavement.
Thankfully, Dog stuck right next to me as we crossed the parking lot to the clinic doors because I didn't own a leash and don't think people would like it too much if I simply tied a rope around his neck. When I opened the clinic door a bell jingled from up above startling Dog causing his ears to lay flat on his head as he pushed against my leg almost knocking me off balance. "It's okay, Dog, it's just a bell." I told him as I stepped into the clinic, slapping my leg to encourage him to follow me. Slowly, with trepidation written all over his posture, Dog followed me to the reception desk.
"Welcome to Greene Clinic, how can I help you today?" The young blonde woman behind the desk asked as soon as I stepped up to the counter.
Clearing my throat I started to introduce myself. "I'm—" I was interrupted by a loud wail coming from around the corner.
The young blonde quickly stood up. "Excuse me for just a moment." She called out as she disappeared around the edge of the wall. As the wailing came to a stop I heard her singing softly before she came back into view with a teary eyed little boy in her arms and a wide eyed little girl clinging to her jeans. "Sorry for the interruption, how can we help you today?" She asked as she sat down with the little boy in her lap and the little girl standing next to her. They appeared to be the same age but they couldn't possibly be hers, she was too young to have kids. Right?
Once again, I cleared my throat and started to introduce myself and Dog. "I'm Daryl Dixon, I came to speak to a Miss Beth Greene about a business matter but before I do that I was hoping to get this dog checked out since he is determined to stay with me." I rattled nervously.
"I'm Beth." She said as she extended a hand towards the counter for me to shake. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Dixon. My father is free at the moment and can check out the dog for you before we discuss the farm business. She turned to the little girl standing next to her. "Rory, can you go get Papa?" She asked her. The tiny red headed girl quickly smiled and took off down the hallway while Dog sat on my foot and cocked his head up at me. "What is your dog's name?" Beth Greene asked me softly.
Looking down at the dog as he sat on my foot looking up at me I shrugged and looked back to her. "Dog?" I said with a shrug of my shoulders.
"Are you asking or telling?" Beth Greene asked me as she typed on the keyboard while the little boy sat in her lap with his head resting on her chest.
Clearing my throat I glanced quickly at the dog at my feet. "Telling. He just showed up last week and seems intent on sticking around."
"Dogs are good judges of character so that must mean you are a good person. We'll take a picture of him and post him on the Lost and Found board anyways just in case someone is looking for him. You can take Dog into this first room to the left and we'll be in there in a few minutes to give him a quick check-up." She said as she pointed to her left before pushing back from the desk. "Come on, buddy, let's go check on Rory and Papa."
After a thorough exam, bloodwork, and shots Dog was thoroughly done with this visit to the vet but I still had business to discuss. "Mama, dog?" The little girl asked as she tugged on Beth's hand. Apparently the kids were hers. I began to wonder where their father was and why she was having to bring them to work with her.
"That dog doesn't look too happy right now, Rory. Go pet the pups in the playpen while Mr. Dixon and I discuss business." She told her daughter and pointed towards the back of the building.
The little girl stuck her lip out in a pout but nodded and headed towards the back where her grandfather had disappeared to after doing Dog's exam. "I'm gonna go put him in the truck and grab my folder then I'll be back in."
"Sounds good." She said as she rounded the desk, plucked a toy from the office chair before sitting down.
I made quick work of getting Dog situated in the truck with the windows rolled down halfway and a bowl of water in the floorboard. "Don't piss in my truck." I told him sternly as I grabbed the file folder that contained my business plan, layout of the buildings, and business contract from above my rear-view mirror. Slamming the door of the truck I took a deep breath and headed back towards the building.
Walking inside I spotted the young blonde woman standing talking to her father down the hallway so I took a seat in one of the waiting chairs until she got done. I fiddled with the papers inside the folder while I waited, the knots in my stomach getting worse the longer I waited. Just as I was ready to bold out the door and try again another day a feminine throat cleared next to me. "You ready to discuss business?" Beth asked me as she flipped the lock on the front door. It wasn't quite five o'clock but who was I to say anything.
"Absolutely, Miss Greene." I said as I stood from my chair.
She shook her head and smiled at me. "Beth will do just fine. Please come around the counter and we'll get down to business." I nodded and followed her through a doorway that gave me access to the inner workings of the clinic. She kicked a few children's toys and dog toys towards the wall as we made our way to the desk and two chairs. "Please excuse the mess, we've been busy today so my kids have managed to make a mess of everything." She mumbled as she plucked a yellow polka dot bow out of her chair.
"It's fine. Do we need to reschedule? I'm not in a huge rush since my concrete slabs were just poured yesterday." I explained as I laid my folder on the corner of the desk, plucked a yellow hat from the chair that was temporarily mine, and sat down.
With a shake of her head she sat down with a smile on her face. "It's fine because tomorrow won't be any different than today. At least the kids took a pretty decent nap today so they aren't cranky." She teased as she scooted herself up to the desk. "Tell me about this new business you are bringing to our small town, Mr. Dixon."
"No need for formalities, Miss Greene." I joked as I pulled out a copy of my business plan and timeline for when the business would be fully operational. "Right now, I'm still in the construction phase so I'm working on sourcing out the products to sell in the shop." I explained as I handed her the papers. "I like to butcher my own meats so that I can make sure that…"
